India will not attend SAARC summit in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be attending the upcoming SAARC summit in Islamabad.

Indian media quoted the country’s Ministry of External Affairs saying that “in the prevailing circumstances the government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad”.

Indian media also claimed that Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan will not be attending the conference. India reportedly notified current SAARC chair country Nepal about its decision.

Pakistan calls India's decision 'unfortunate' 

The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) reacted to the neighbouring country’s decision, calling it ‘unfortunate’.

The FO spokesman said that India has not officially notified about its decision regarding the SAARC summit in November.

The spokesman said in a statement, “it is India which has violated the international law and UN charter by interfering in the internal matters of a sovereign state, Pakistan.”

The Foreign office spokesman said that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation, adding that the country will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of the people of the region.

Pakistan is hosting the 19th SAARC summit on the 9th and 10th of November this year. Leaders of SAARC members states and nine observers have been invited.

The Saarc group includes Pakistan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The already lukewarm relations between the two neighbouring countries worsened due to escalation of conflict in Indian-held Kashmir since July and in wake of the recent Uri attack that killed 18 Indian soldiers.